Information processing device

ABSTRACT

An information processing device includes: an apparatus main body; and a display mechanism that is provided to be displaceable with respect to the apparatus main body, is provided with an antenna used to perform communication with a mobile terminal, and is configured to display information. The apparatus main body is not located in a place where the display mechanism extends upwards and downwards the display mechanism in a state in which the display mechanism is displaced with respect to the apparatus main body.

INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/576,250, filed Nov. 21, 2017, which is a national stage entry ofPCT/JP2016/065783, filed May 27, 2016, which is based on and claimspriority to Japanese Patent Application JP 2015-108810 filed May 28,2015. The content of each of the above references is hereby incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

PTL 1 discloses an image forming apparatus provided with a communicationsection corresponding to an antenna section of housing in a locationwhich can be viewed from above.

PRIOR ART LITERATURE Patent Literature

[PTL 1] JP-A-2013-228540

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In a case where an antenna that performs communication with a mobileterminal is installed in an image forming apparatus and the mobileterminal is held over the antenna, communication is performed betweenthe image forming apparatus and the mobile terminal.

However, in a case where a display mechanism provided in the imageforming apparatus is configured to be displaceable and the user holdsthe mobile terminal over the antenna, interferences are caused betweenthe mobile terminal and the display mechanism in a displaced state, andthus there is a problem in that it is difficult to perform an operationof holding the mobile terminal over the antenna.

In an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to improveoperability in a case where the mobile terminal is held over the antennainstalled in the image forming apparatus which includes the displaceabledisplay mechanism.

Solution to Problem

[1] According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, thereis provided an image forming apparatus including: an apparatus mainbody; and a display mechanism that is provided to be displaceable withrespect to the apparatus main body, is provided with an antenna used toperform communication with a mobile terminal, and is configured todisplay information.

[2] In the image forming apparatus of [1], the display mechanism mayinclude a display screen, and is capable of taking at least two statesincluding a first state in which the display screen is close to a sideof a front surface of the apparatus main body, and a second state inwhich the display screen is separated from the side of the frontsurface, and the antenna may approach the side of the front surface ofthe apparatus main body in a case where the display mechanism isdisplaced from the second state to the first state.

[3] In the image forming apparatus of [1] or [2], the display mechanismmay be displaced with respect to the apparatus main body by rotatingaround a rotational shaft, and, furthermore, may include a side edgealong a direction in which the rotational shaft extends, and the antennamay be installed between the rotational shaft and the side edge, and maybe installed on a side which is closer to the rotational shaft than theside edge.

[4] In the image forming apparatus of any one of [1] to [3], theapparatus main body may be further provided with a control section thatcontrols the image forming apparatus, the display mechanism may beprovided with a control substrate that controls display performed on thedisplay mechanism, a connection line that electrically connects thecontrol section to the control substrate may be provided, and theantenna may be connected to the control substrate, and is connected tothe control section through the connection line.

[5] The image forming apparatus of any one of [1] to [4] may be composedsuch that it is possible to install another antenna in a predeterminedinstallation place of the apparatus main body, and the antenna providedin the display mechanism may be provided on a side opposite to a sidewhich is close to the predetermined installation place.

[6] The image forming apparatus of [2] may be composed such that it ispossible to install another antenna, which is different from the displaymechanism-side antenna that is the antenna provided in the displaymechanism, in the apparatus main body, and may further include guidancemeans that may perform guidance, which indicates that a place over whichthe mobile terminal is held corresponds to another antenna, may beperformed with respect to a user in a case where another antenna isinstalled in the apparatus main body and the display mechanism is in thesecond state, and may perform guidance, which indicates that the placeover which the mobile terminal is held corresponds to the displaymechanism-side antenna, with respect to the user in a case where anotherantenna is installed in the apparatus main body and the displaymechanism is in a state other than the second state.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the image forming apparatus of [1], compared to a casewhere the antenna is installed on a side of the apparatus main body, itis possible to improve operability in a case where the mobile terminalis held over the antenna installed in the image forming apparatus whichincludes the displaceable display mechanism.

According to the image forming apparatus of [2], compared to a casewhere the antenna does not approach the side of the front surface of theapparatus main body, it is possible to improve operability in a casewhere the mobile terminal is held over the antenna.

According to the image forming apparatus of [3], compared to a casewhere the antenna is installed on a side close to the side edge betweenthe rotational shaft and the side edge, unintended displacement of thedisplay mechanism is hardly caused.

According to the image forming apparatus of [4], compared to a casewhere a dedicated connection line, which connects the control section tothe antenna, is provided, a configuration of the device becomes simple.

According to the image forming apparatus of [5], compared to a casewhere the antenna provided in the display mechanism is disposed on aside which is close to another antenna installation place, it ispossible to prevent communication from being performed between anantenna, which is not scheduled to be communicated, and the mobileterminal.

According to the image forming apparatus of [6], it is possible toinstall an antenna, which has a function different from that of theantenna provided in the display mechanism, in the image formingapparatus, and, in addition, it is possible to improve operability in acase where the mobile terminal is held over the antenna.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according toan embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an antenna.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating wirings and a substrate, which areprovided in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of another configuration ofthe image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of another configuration ofthe image forming apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus 1 accordingto the embodiment.

The image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment is providedwith an apparatus main body 100, and a display mechanism 200 that isprovided to be displaceable with respect to the apparatus main body 100.

The apparatus main body 100 is provided with an image reading mechanism110 that reads an image on an original document, and an image formingmechanism 120 that performs image-forming on paper which is an exampleof a recording material.

In addition, the apparatus main body 100 includes a front surface 100Awhich faces a user in a case where the user operates the image formingapparatus 1. In addition, the apparatus main body 100 includes a rearsurface (not illustrated in the drawing) that is positioned on a sideopposite to the front surface 100A, and a left-side surface 100B and aright-side surface (not illustrated in the drawing) which connect thefront surface 100A to the rear surface.

The image forming mechanism 120 performs image-forming on the paperusing a so-called electrophotographic system. Meanwhile, animage-forming method is not limited to the electrophotographic system,and another method, such as an ink jet method, may be used.

The display mechanism 200 is provided with a display panel 220 which iscomposed of a liquid crystal panel or the like. The display panel 220includes a display screen 221, and displays information using thedisplay screen 221. Furthermore, the display mechanism 200 is providedwith a control substrate (which will be described later) which is usedto control display on the display panel 220.

In addition, the display mechanism 200 is formed in a plate shape, andhas four side edges including a first side edge 211 to a fourth sideedge 214.

Here, the first side edge 211 is located at an upper end of the displaymechanism 200 in a state in which the display mechanism 200 is upright(standing state), as illustrated in FIG. 1. In addition, the first sideedge 211 is disposed along a horizontal direction.

In addition, the second side edge 212 is located at a lower end of thedisplay mechanism 200 in a state in which the display mechanism 200 isupright, and, in addition, extends along the horizontal direction.

Furthermore, the third side edge 213 is located at a left end of thedisplay mechanism 200 in the drawing, and extends along a verticaldirection. In addition, the fourth side edge 214 is located at a rightend of the display mechanism 200 in the drawing and extends along thevertical direction.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, an exterior cover 230, which is composedof a black resin material and is formed in a plate shape, is provided ona right side of the display panel 220 in the drawing.

Furthermore, in the embodiment, a communication section 240, whichperforms communication (Near Field Communication (NFC)) with a mobileterminal possessed by the user, is provided.

Meanwhile, in the embodiment, not only information is transmitted fromthe communication section 240 but also information stored in thecommunication section 240 is rewritten. In other words, thecommunication section 240 is composed of an active tag which has areading/writing function.

The communication section 240 is provided with an antenna 241.Furthermore, the communication section 240 is provided with an IC chip(not illustrated in the drawing) or the like in order to storeinformation.

Furthermore, the communication section 240 is provided with a displaylamp 242 (display lamp 242 that notifies the user of a place over whichthe mobile terminal is held) that indicates the place over which themobile terminal is held.

The antenna 241, the IC chip, and the like are provided on a back sideof the exterior cover 230. In the embodiment, communication (Near FieldCommunication (NFC)) is performed between the image forming apparatus 1and the mobile terminal possessed by the user through the antenna 241.Therefore, for example, the image forming apparatus 1 and the mobileterminal are paired. In addition, for example, information istransmitted from the mobile terminal to the image forming apparatus 1,and the information is transmitted from the image forming apparatus 1 tothe mobile terminal.

Meanwhile, a smart phone and a tablet terminal are examples of themobile terminal.

In addition, in the embodiment, a rotational shaft 244, which extendsalong the first side edge 211 and the second side edge 212 of thedisplay mechanism 200, is provided. The display mechanism 200 rotatesaround the rotational shaft 244, and is displaced with respect toapparatus main body 100.

Here, the antenna 241 is provided between the rotational shaft 244 andthe first side edge 211, and is installed on a side which is close tothe rotational shaft 244 between the rotational shaft 244 and the firstside edge 211.

In a case where communication is performed between the image formingapparatus 1 and the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal is held overthe antenna 241 of the display mechanism 200.

Here, there is a case where the mobile terminal is pressed against thedisplay mechanism 200. Here, in a case where the antenna 241 isinstalled on a side which is close to the rotational shaft 244, it iseasy that rotation moment, which applies to the display mechanism 200,is reduced, compared to a case where the antenna 241 is installed on aside which is close to the first side edge 211. Furthermore, in thiscase, unintended rotation of the display mechanism 200 is prevented.That is, the display mechanism 200 in the standing state is preventedfrom being laid.

Meanwhile, FIG. 1 illustrates a first state in which the displaymechanism 200 is displaced with respect to the apparatus main body 100and the display screen 221 is close to a side of the front surface 100Aof the apparatus main body 100.

In a case where the display mechanism 200 is pressed toward to a side ofthe rear surface of the apparatus main body 100 from the first state,the display mechanism 200 rotates in a direction indicated by referencesymbol 1A, and a second state, in which the display screen 221 isseparated from the side of the front surface 100A, (second state inwhich the display mechanism 200 is laid) is made.

A recess section 100E is provided in the apparatus main body 100, and,in the second state, the display mechanism 200 is accommodated in therecess section 100E.

Furthermore, in the second state, an exterior surface 100X of theapparatus main body 100 and an exterior surface (display screen 221) ofthe display mechanism 200 are aligned. That is, the exterior surface100X of the apparatus main body 100 and the exterior surface of thedisplay mechanism 200 are located on the same surface.

However, although an aspect in which the antenna 241 is provided on aside of the apparatus main body 100 is conceivable, in this case, thereis a problem in that operability is lowered in a case where the mobileterminal is held over the antenna 241 (in a case where the mobileterminal faces the antenna 241).

Specifically, for example, a case where the antenna is installed in aplace indicated by reference symbol 1B in the drawing is assumed. Inthis case, for example, in a case where a largish mobile terminal, suchas a mobile terminal of an A4 size, is held over the antenna,interferences are caused between the mobile terminal and the displaymechanism 200 in the standing state, and thus it is difficult to performan operation of holding the mobile terminal over the antenna.

Compared to this, in a case where the antenna 241 is provided in thedisplay mechanism 200 similar to the embodiment, interferences betweenthe mobile terminal and the display mechanism 200 are avoided.

That is, in the embodiment, in a case where the display mechanism 200 isdisplaced from the second state in which the display mechanism 200 islaid to the first state in which the display mechanism 200 is standing,the antenna 241 becomes close to the side of the front surface 100A ofthe apparatus main body 100. Therefore, a state in which the antenna 241is installed in the innermost place is avoided, and thus it is easy forthe user to perform the operation of holding the mobile terminal overthe antenna 241.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the antenna 241.

The antenna 241 and an accommodation member 249A that accommodates theantenna 241 are provided on the back side of the exterior cover 230 (seeFIG. 1) of the display mechanism 200, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The accommodation member 249A is formed in a plate parallelepiped shape.Furthermore, a light source 249B that is composed of a Light EmittingDiode (LED) is installed on an inner side of a region surrounded by theantenna 241.

In a case where the display lamp 242 (see FIG. 1) is irradiated withlight emitted from the light source 249B, the display lamp 242 islighted. Therefore, it is easy for the user to recognize a place overwhich the mobile terminal is held.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating wirings and a substrate which areprovided in the image forming apparatus 1.

The display panel 220 is provided on a side of the display mechanism 200of the image forming apparatus 1, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The displaypanel 220 according to the embodiment is composed of a touch panel 220Aand a liquid crystal display 220B.

Furthermore, a control substrate 280, which performs display control onthe liquid crystal display 220B and reception of a signal from the touchpanel 220A, is provided on the side of the display mechanism 200.Furthermore, the communication section 240, which includes the antenna241, is provided in the display mechanism 200.

In contrast, a control section 300, which controls respective sectionsof the image forming apparatus 1, is provided on the side of theapparatus main body 100. Furthermore, in the embodiment, a connectionline 400, which electrically connects the control section 300 providedon the side of the apparatus main body 100 to the control substrate 280provided in the display mechanism 200, is provided.

The antenna 241 provided in the display mechanism 200 is once connectedto the control substrate 280, and is connected to the control section300 through the connection line 400. Therefore, the configuration of thedevice becomes simple.

Here, although an aspect in which the antenna 241 is connected to thecontrol section 300 using a dedicated connection line is conceivable, inthis case, it is necessary to prepare the dedicated connection line,thereby causing increase in manufacturing cost. In addition, in a casewhere the dedicated line is provided, the configuration of the devicebecomes complicated, compared to a case where the dedicated line is notprovided.

In contrast, in the embodiment, the antenna 241 is connected to thecontrol substrate 280, and thus the configuration of the device becomessimple. In addition, the dedicated line is not provided, and thus themanufacturing cost becomes further low.

However, in the recent years, an IC card reader, which is capable ofperforming communication with the mobile terminal (performingcommunication with the mobile terminal through NFC), has been developed.In the image forming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, the ICcard reader is retrofitted in a place indicated by reference symbol 1Cin FIG. 1, and thus it is possible to install the IC card reader whichperforms communication with the mobile terminal. Meanwhile, in the ICcard reader, which is retrofitted and installed, a display lamp, whichis the same as the display lamp 242 illustrated in FIG. 1, is provided.

Here, control, which is performed by the image forming apparatus 1 in acase where the IC card reader is installed in the image formingapparatus 1, will be described.

In a case where the IC card reader is installed in the image formingapparatus 1, control of lighting of the display lamp is differentiatedaccording to a state of the display mechanism 200.

Specifically, in a case where the display mechanism 200 is in the secondstate (the state in which the display mechanism 200 is laid), thedisplay lamp provided in the IC card reader is lighted, and thusguidance, which indicates that the place over which the mobile terminalis held corresponds to the IC card reader, is performed with respect tothe user.

That is, in a case where the display mechanism 200 is in the secondstate (the state in which the display mechanism 200 is laid), thedisplay lamp 242 (see FIG. 1) of the display mechanism 200 is lighted.In addition, the display lamp provided in the IC card reader is lighted,and thus guidance, which indicates that the place over which the mobileterminal is held corresponds to the IC card reader, is performed withrespect to the user.

In contrast, in a case where the display mechanism 200 is in the firststate (the state in which the display mechanism 200 is standing, thatis, states other than the second state), the display lamp provided inthe IC card reader is lighted. In addition, the display lamp 242 of thedisplay mechanism 200 is lighted, and thus guidance, which indicatesthat the place over which the mobile terminal is held corresponds to theantenna 241 of the display mechanism 200, is performed with respect tothe user.

Meanwhile, the guidance is performed by the control section 300 (seeFIG. 3) which functions as guidance means. Here, the control section 300is composed of a Central Processing Unit (CPU) on which program controlis performed.

In addition, whether the display mechanism 200 is in the first state orthe second state is determined by, for example, a switch (notillustrated in the drawing) which is turned on/off by being pressed bythe display mechanism 200.

Here, in the process example, in a case where the display mechanism 200is in the first state (standing state), the place over which the mobileterminal is held becomes the antenna 241 of the display mechanism 200.Therefore, as described above, the interferences between the displaymechanism 200 and the mobile terminal are avoided, and thus it is easyto hold the mobile terminal over the antenna 241.

In addition, in a case where the display mechanism 200 is in the secondstate (laid state), the place over which the mobile terminal is heldbecomes the IC card reader, and thus reading of information from the ICcard (not illustrated in the drawing) is performed in addition tocommunication between the mobile terminal and the image formingapparatus 1.

Meanwhile, the display mechanism 200 and the display lamp 242, which isprovided in the IC card reader, are formed to have a dark transparentplate disposed at a part of a black board (a base material).

Specifically, in the display lamp 242 according to the embodiment, partscorresponding to a character 242A which includes “NFC” and a mark 242Bwhich indicates radio wave transmission are formed by the darktransparent plate, the parts being illustrated in FIG. 1. Ground partscorresponding to other parts are composed of a black board (opaqueboard).

In a case where the display lamp 242 is irradiated with light from thelight source 249B (see FIG. 2), the character 242A and the mark 242Bemerge.

In contrast, in a state in which the display lamp 242 is not irradiatedwith light, a state in which a contrast between the transparent plateand the black board is small is made, thereby causing a state in whichthe character 242A and the mark 242B become invisible (a state in whichthe user does not notice).

As a result, in the embodiment, only the display lamp on a side which isirradiated with light becomes conspicuous, and the display lamp which isnot irradiated with light is not noticed by the user.

In the embodiment, as described above, any one of the display lamp 242on the side of the display mechanism 200 and the display lamp (thedisplay lamp of the IC card reader) on the side of the apparatus mainbody is lighted. However, in this case, it is difficult for a remainingone to be conspicuous.

Therefore, a case where the user is in doubt about one of the twodisplay lamps to which the mobile terminal is held over seldom occurs.

Here, in the embodiment, in a case where the IC card reader (anotherantenna) is retrofitted and is installed, the IC card reader isinstalled in a predetermined installation place (place indicated byreference symbol 1C in FIG. 1).

Meanwhile, the antenna on the side of the display mechanism 200 isprovided on a side opposite to a side which is close to thepredetermined installation place. That is, in the embodiment, the ICcard reader is installed on a left side of the display mechanism 200 inthe drawing, and thus the antenna 241 provided in the display mechanism200 is disposed on a right side of the display mechanism 200.

Here, in a case where the antenna 241 of the display mechanism 200 isinstalled on a side which is close to the IC card reader, an alienationdistance between the antenna 241 of the display mechanism 200 and the ICcard reader becomes short.

In the case, regardless that the user tries to perform communicationwith the image forming apparatus 1 by, for example, holding the mobileterminal over the IC card reader, communication may occur between theantenna on the side of the display mechanism 200 and the mobileterminal.

More specifically, there is a case where both the antenna 241 of thedisplay mechanism 200 and the antenna provided in the IC card reader areturned on regardless of a state of the display mechanism 200.

In this case, in a case where the alienation distance between theantenna 241 of the display mechanism 200 and the antenna of the IC cardreader is short, regardless that the user holds the mobile terminal overthe one-side antenna, communication may occur between another sideantenna and the mobile terminal.

In contrast, similar to the embodiment, in a case where the antenna 241of the display mechanism 200 is provided on the side opposite to theside which is close to the IC card reader installation place, thealienation distance between the antenna 241 of the display mechanism 200and the antenna of the IC card reader becomes long. Therefore, there isa high possibility that communication is performed between the antenna,which is scheduled to perform communication, and the mobile terminal.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams illustrating examples of other configurationsof the image forming apparatus 1.

In the image forming apparatus 1, the image reading mechanism 110illustrated in FIG. 1 is not provided, and only the image formingmechanism 120 is provided. Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus1, the display mechanism 200 rotates around the rotational shaft 244.

Furthermore, in addition, the antenna 241 is provided in the displaymechanism 200, as indicated by reference symbol 4A, similar to the abovedescription. The antenna 241 is provided on a side of the rotationalshaft 244. In addition, the antenna 241 is provided on the right side ofthe display mechanism 200 in the drawing.

Meanwhile, an installation location of the antenna 241 is not limited tothe right side of the display mechanism 200, and may be provided on alower side of the display mechanism 200 as indicated by reference symbol4B. In addition, the antenna 241 may be installed on an upper side and aleft side of the display mechanism 200.

In addition, in the configuration example illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5,it is possible to attach the IC card reader to a place indicated byreference symbol 4D in the drawing. More specifically, it is possible toselectively attach the IC card reader to a back side of the displaymechanism 200 such that the IC card reader becomes approximately thesame plane as the display mechanism 200.

Although various embodiments have been described above, the embodimentsmay be combined.

In addition, the present disclosure is not limited to theabove-described embodiments, and may be carried out in various formswithout departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   1 image forming apparatus    -   100 apparatus main body    -   100A front surface    -   200 display mechanism    -   211 first side edge    -   221 display screen    -   241 antenna    -   244 rotational shaft    -   280 control substrate    -   300 control section    -   400 connection line

1. An information processing device comprising: an apparatus main body;a display mechanism that is provided to be displaceable with respect tothe apparatus main body, the display mechanism including a first antennaprovided on one side of the display mechanism and used to performcommunication with a mobile terminal; and a second antenna that isdifferent from the first antenna and that is installed in a part of theapparatus main body outside of an edge of an other side of the displaymechanism.
 2. The information processing device according to claim 1,wherein a distance between the first antenna and the second antenna islarger than a distance within which the communication between the firstantenna and the second antenna is performed.
 3. The informationprocessing device according to claim 2, wherein the first antenna andthe second antenna use the same communication system for communicatingwith the mobile terminal.
 4. The information processing device accordingto claim 3, wherein both of the first antenna and the second antenna arenear field communication antennas.
 5. The information processing deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the display mechanism comprises arotational shaft along a lower side edge of the display mechanism, thefirst antenna is closer to the rotational shaft than an upper side edgeof the display mechanism.